NPCs
NPCs
Table of Contents
Non-Player Characters (NPCs) are an influential part of a PCs story. They can be parents, shopkeepers, enemy soldiers, and so much more.
NPCs make the world of Siliren come to life. Any PC can roleplay with an NPC, though there are exceptions depending on the NPC type. There are four types of NPCs: the Family and Friends NPC, the Companion NPC, the Traditional NPC and Random NPC.
Family and Friends NPC
The Family and Friends NPC (FNPC), is a character created by the player to enrich and flesh out their PCs background. Unlike the Player Character, these NPCs are unchanging, for the most part. These characters do not gain skills apart from their starting points. They do not acquire items, or move between cities or regions – unless specifically roleplayed and awarded by a grader. These characters grow older and can die.
An important part of these NPCs is that they are not public. The PC who created the FNPC owns the character and other PCs cannot control them.. Every action of the FNPC in a thread is decided and written by the controlling PC. FNPCs do not have to be given Spirit permission to make. Although make sure the NPCs are realistic. A Spirit has the right to remove any NPC they deem unfit. Please note that children of a PC cannot be a FNPC.
Starting Packages
FNPCs can begin with up to 200 skill points in any subject. Although using all 200 is not required. It is encouraged that skill points given are in a range that makes sense to the NPCs age and background. A young would not be a master at any skill, while an older NPC may be a master if they trained in that skill throughout their lifetime.
FNPCs can have a number of items, from a house to weapons and even pets. NPCs can be as versatile as a PC. FNPCs cannot own magical, or rare items, or give a loan to a PC. FNPCs can have items that are logically consistent with their skills: If a hunter PC goes on a hunting trip then their FNPC brother may have a bow and some arrows. But the FNPC would not be allowed to have a bow that once belonged to the founder of a hunter’s guild, or arrows that magically ignite once it hits the target.
Items do not have to be listed in a FNPCs character sheet to be mentioned in threads. An FNPC can gain items through roleplay that are then awarded by a grader, or a PC can buy the FNPC items, as long as the price is deducted from the PCs ledger. It is assumed the FNPC has and makes enough coins to support itself. Coins can never be shared between an FNPC and a PC.
Companion NPC
A Companion NPC(CNPC), is a non player character that travels and resides alongside the main PC. This kind of NPC is supported, maintained and supplied by the PC. Examples of this are children sired by the PC, apprentices, squires, partners or other characters that would be by the PCs side almost constantly.
This area of NPC can take from the previous FNPC listed. While a sibling may fall initially under a FNPC criterion, if the sibling travels, lives and works with the PC side by side, then that sibling would fall under the CNPC criterion instead. Pets such as dogs, horses or birds do not count as a CNPC, see Pet section below.
A unique characteristic of CNPCs is that they grow alongside their PCs. Every season the CNPC will be awarded skill points based on the number and type of threads they were involved in. It is entirely up to the Spirits discretion what skills and how many points are awarded. These NPCs grow and age alongside their PCs and, like FNPCs, are not public. Only the owner PC can roleplay the CNPCs actions. Because of their closeness with the PC, CNPCs are more strictly limited in their starting packages. Companion NPCs are required to have Spirit approval, and all Spirits reserve the right to remove any NPCs they deem unfit for roleplay.
Starting Packages
CNPCs can begin with up to 100 skill points in any number of skills. Using all 100 points is not required and once again it is asked that the PC create a believable NPC based on the CNPCs background and age.
CNPCs differ from other NPCs in the items they are allowed to have. All CNPCs start with the basic starting package of a PC, however they start with no coins, no housing and no heirloom. Exceptions may apply, however the PC must go through a Spirit to get the CNPC approved if they believe such exceptions apply. CNPCs cannot gain items unless specifically roleplayed and awarded by a grader, or bought using the PCs coins. CNPCs cannot gain coins under any circumstances.
CNPCs Under the Age of Five
CNPCs, such as children of the PC, that are under the age of five start with no starting package at all. They have no skills and no items. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Traditional NPC
A Traditional NPC, or a TNPC, is a non player character that populates Siliren and is specific or important enough to merit a name and history. This type of NPC is not owned by a PC, it instead is owned by the city, region, or area the NPC is located in. Examples of this can be government leaders, shopkeepers, or trainers. Instead of being displayed with a PC’s CS, TNPCs are owned by the area and are usually located in a NPC Library or something similar for public use.
Like FNCPs, TNCPs are mostly unchanging. They are completely controlled by Spirits and therefore Spirits can alter Traditional NPCs any way they see fit. Traditional NPCs can be created by a PC however they require concept approval before being allowed to role play. For example, a PC runs into a traveling merchant. They speak for a moment before the PC buys an item and the two go their separate ways. Although the PC may give the NPC merchant a name, this NPC is considered a Random NPC rather than a Traditional one (see Random NPC below). A traditional NPC would instead be a shopkeeper of a store written within the lore, or a General of an army that gives out assignments to his recruits.
Starting Packages
TNPCS can start with a multitude of skill points and items. They can have Divinaris marks among other magical entities. A PC can create TNPCs and submit them for approval, but Spirits always have final approval by Spirits.
Random NPC
A Random NPC is a non player character that a PC may interact with in a thread, they are simple filler and used when the PC needs something and cannot do it by themselves . The difference between a TNPC and a RNPC is that a Random NPC would only be interacted with in one thread. If the RNPC reappears in a second thread then the NPC is usually important enough to merit their own history and skills. Any PC can create a RNPC on a whim and it does not need approval from a Spirit.
Starting Packages
A RNPC can have a multitude of items and skills to begin with. However almost none of these can be shared with the PC without a penalty of some sort. For example, a traveling merchant would have wares, the PC would then only be able to gain these wares by taking a penalty of coins, attempting theft or battle, where the outcome would be up to a Spirit. Any RNPC meets the criteria of a TNCP and can be applied for as such at any time. However if the RNPC shows up a second time in any thread it must be put in as a TNPC and have moderator approval.
Pets
Pets include any and all non-sentient creatures that travel or accompany a PC most commonly: horses, dogs or birds. However, players can get creative and acquire other pets. The only requirement for a Pet NPC would be its non-sentience and ownership by the PC. Mounts, hunting animals, household pets, farm cattle, are all considered Pets. Pets should be adopted in a logical way. The most simple is through purchase, or gained through a completed thread where a PC saved a box of abandoned puppies from the rain and decided to keep one and find homes for the others.
Starting Packages
All Pets begin with nothing, just like a newborn baby. They have no skills and no items. The only exception to this would be the purchase of an animal that has been previously trained for a certain purpose, such as hunting.
For example, a PC can buy an untrained dog for 10 coins and anything the master wishes it to do would have to be taught in character. On the other hand, the PC may choose to purchase a hunting dog for 40 coins. This dog has been previously and specifically trained to hunt and will have that skill.
Although Pets may begin with and gain skills, they are not the same as skills a PC tracks. They are not numbered or rewarded in grades. Instead they are assumed. If a PC trains a dog to hunt in a series of 5 threads, the grader of those threads will not award the dog +5 skill points in hunting. Instead it will be assumed that through the PCs hard work the dog has now learned how to hunt. The dog will then earn a title of Hunting Dog. Pets can learn more than one title. See the Grading Guide for more information on Pet skills.